The University of Manchester has revealed proposals for a 27,000 sq ft extension to its physics and astronomy building.

The Schuster Annexe, part of the University’s £1bn campus masterplan, will be built on unoccupied land on the corner of Upper Brook Street and Brunswick Street in Manchester and will connect to the Schuster Building, where the material graphene was isolated by Nobel-prize winning Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov.

The project, which is part-funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, will house collaborative learning spaces and a flexible new ‘Ideas Mill’ which will explore different methods of teaching and learning in the department.

The Ideas Mill will be a base for outreach activities and create a venue for connection and collaboration.

The University will submit a planning application for the proposals later this month.

Work is expected to start on site later this year with completion scheduled for early 2017.

The architect is Hawkins\Brown, project manager and cost consultant is Arcadis, multidisciplinary engineer is White Young Green, building control Butler & Young and CDM advisor is Keelagher Okey Klein.

Professor Martin Schröder, vice-president and dean of the faculty of engineering and physical sciences, said: “The Schuster Annexe development continues the University’s drive to invest in new core facilities to improve teaching and learning for our students. It will enhance the skills and employability of our students and extend our outreach capabilities.”